British Gas boiler installation quote - full system

rentalforever

Helping my parents sort out their heating system as they've got a really old (about 18 years old) Ariston Combi boiler and it's been a bit flakey in recent weeks. Figured it's time to bite the bullet and sort out the entire system, some of the radiators no longer work due to leaks.

We've got an all-inclusive quote from British Gas for a Worcester-Bosch 30i ERP with 6 radiator removal+install (2x small, 2x medium, 2x large). Scaffolding included as flue is not accessible.

All this was quoted at £7200, I've talked them down to £6500. Is that a good deal? Would prefer BG for this job as I have more confidence they'll do a proper job and if they don't, it's not like they can pack up and disappear.

Plumber90

9 times out of 10 British Gas use sub contractors so I would get quote off of local heating engineers. To me it seems very high, where abouts in the country are you?

cajef

British Gas are invariably expensive they quoted us nearly £1500 more than a local company, get two or three quotes from local established gas safe heating companies.

bris

A decent local fitter can do for half that. BG rely on people like yourself who seem to think BG must be the best because they are BG.


This isn't a big job, 6 radiators is a small job actually and the boiler is probably bigger than you actually need.


Not sure where you are in the Country but in my area that's under 3k, with the scaffolding, if actually needed, another 3-400 on top.

glasgowdan

People who think BG "must" do a good job because they're BG tend to also refer to "The Corporation", "Gas Board" and use unintentionally derogatory words for Chinese takeaways!

British Gas do not do a better job than a good small firm. But they'll charge thousands more.

rentalforever

Just to clarify, I didn't say BG will do a better job, I said I have confidence they'll do a proper job and if they don't, I have a better chance of holding them accountable. A local installer may well do the same job just as well for a lot less but I have no track record for any of them. How do I know they'll do the job properly and if they don't they'll actually come back and put it right?

Alex1983

BG installation is normal pretty good and you have someone to go back to if there is issues that you know will always be there. There will always be people that slate there work but they fit a massive amount of boilers so always going to get some horrors. They do use contactors but not all. You used to be able to ask for there direct labour, not sure if you still can.

The price does seem very high to me even by BG standards but I’ve not seen the job and no one here has so we can’t say it’s too much, best bet is to get a few other quotes and see what the ball park figure is and then make the decision if your happy to pay £xxx more to have BG do it.

bris

Well I can say with certainty it's to much, a lot to much as it's normal practise for them to be 2-3k more expensive. They rely on their reputation to sell boilers and most sign up on the spot without looking elsewhere.


But since the OP is asking the question then it's only right to point out that no, this is not a fair price for the job. Do you really need to see the job to know this?

rentalforever

Another national installer came in with a quote for £5300, but having read the reviews it seems they've got a bad reputation so not going to go with them

Alex1983

I’ve said it sounds very high but seeing as the OP has had another quote for £5300 BG price doesn’t sound quite as bad. You can’t just assume it’s a straight forward 2/3k without seeing it. 2 companies have quoted £5k plus.

Get a couple of local independent people to quote and then judge it.

rentalforever

This is the breakdown before discounts applied: